San Diego, Calif.- The 53rd-ranked Utah women’s tennis team (6-4) defeated Texas Tech (5-8), 4-3, in the semifinals of the Barnes Collegiate Women’s Invitational, Thursday. Freshman Lexi Provancha clinched the match for the Utes with her 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, win over Stefanie Peana at the No. 5 position. Utah will face 44th-ranked Ole Miss (7-5) in the finals Friday at 12:30 p.m. PT.

“A great college tennis match was played today,” said head coach Mat Iandolo. “Texas Tech has had a good year that includes a win over our conference rival TCU. Tomorrow’s match against Ole Miss gives us an opportunity to play a ranked SEC team.”

Freshmen Anastasia Putilina and Lisa Johnson at the No. 1 spot defeated Kerryn Potgieter and Peana, 8-4. Seniors Leigh Walsh and Karine Bourdages clinched the doubles point for the Utes from the No. 3 spot with an 8-6 win over Simone Templeton and Natalie Leitch.

In singles play Walsh fell to Leitch at the No. 4 spot, 6-4, 6-3, leveling the score 1-1. Bourdages then defeated Potgieter at the No. 6 position, 6-4, 6-3, to put the Utes up 2-1. At the No. 3 spot Johnson lost to Templeton, 6-2, 7-6(2), to even things back up, 2-2.